arepp:Theatre for Life Celebrates Thirty Years of Changing Young People's Lives Through Theatre

The arepp:Theatre for Life Trust is an Applied Theatre organisation which has been operating nationally in South Africa since 1987. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the organisation. arepp:Theatre for Life's vision is a rights-based, supportive society in which the individual members are active directors of their own lives, taking responsibility for making informed choices which lead to empowered decisions for their holistic growth. This, in turn, contributes to the constructive development of their society.

To achieve this arepp:Theatre for Life's mission is to produce travelling Applied Theatre presentations in schools, providing interactive, social life-skills education to school-going youth, to develop self-efficacy and resilience in relation to social lifestyle issues. Performed in the real-life context and home language of the audience, the productions have two aspects: the performance of a thirty-minute play, followed by a thirty-minute problem-solving discussion with the audience. The productions are specifically designed to be performed as a Life Orientation lesson in the schools' daily schedules and to complement and support the outcomes of the national Life Orientation curriculum and the strategic plan for HIV and AIDS.

arepp:Theatre for Life has three project focuses: two in primary schools, the NO MONKEY BUSINESS series for grades 1 to 4 and the ABOUT US series for grades 4 to 7, and the LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP series in secondary schools, split between the junior grades 8 and 9 and the senior grades 10 to 12.

arepp:Theatre for Life's applied theatre method combines the concepts of observational learning and modelling through a theatre show with the processes of experiential and reflexive learning through a facilitated discussion to develop self-efficacy with regard to lifestyle choices and behaviours. The theatre experience stands in for, substitutes and becomes a life experience for the audience, one which is then reflected upon, analysed and theorised, and where skills are imparted to understand how to problem solve, and make sense and meaning of experience. Engagement with the arepp:Theatre for Life performances assists young people in handling themselves within their own contexts and finding their own solutions to their problems, while simultaneously exposing them to the thrill, excitement, culture and enjoyment of a live theatre show.

arepp:Theatre for Life is a registered Trust (Reg no : 642/91) and a registered Non-Profit Organisation, (NPO 014 588) with Section 18(A) status. In order to perform to schools free of charge, arepp:Theatre for Life sources funding from appropriate issue- and arts and culture-focused donors that respect and share the organisation's ethical position on quality, rights-based, and equal education.

Without the generous support of our funders, none of our work in South African schools would be possible. The National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (WCDCAS)currently support the work of the arepp:Theatre for Life Trust.

During the life of the organisation funding contracts have been concluded with, in no particular order, the South African Department of Health HIV/AIDS Directorate, The National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), The Interchurch Development Agency of the Netherlands (ICCO), Stop AIDS Now! (SAN!), ArtVenture, The Conference Workshop and Cultural Initiate Fund (CWCI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union (EU), Christian Aid, Oxfam Canada, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, The Japanese Embassy, Comic Relief: United Kingdom, Interfund, the Norwegian Students Association (SAIH), the STARS Foundation, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), The Anglo American Chairman's Fund, The Western and Eastern Cape Education Departments, The De Beers Foundation, The Gauteng and Western Cape Departments of Cultural Affairs and Sport, The Liberty Life Foundation, and The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC).

The public is urged to support arepp:Theatre for Life by becoming a once off, monthly or annual supporter. Donations can be made via direct bank transfer, with details available directly from arepp:Theatre for Life. All South African donations are tax deductible as we are Section 18a, Non Profit Organisation.